stewblack

Had a couple of good sessions on the FI this week. Still feeling my way in, but it's a good way (for me) to learn. I copy someone else's patch into the edito and think, OK but what if I want the instrument more bassy and the synth less distorted. Then work out how to achieve this. It removes the kind of techno blindness I get when I try to start from a blank page. Doing smaller, specific tasks actually begins to ingrain all sorts of other seemingly minor steps. Slowly I built the whole. EDIT: (for the ahem more literally minded) The above is merely an hypothetical example. I don't spend all day just doing those two things.

I quoted all the tech stuff!!

Very nice

Ah! Thank you so much. That is REALLY handy.

I missed this nugget! Thank you. However the ability to save 'favourite presets' and the up / down option will (I hope) still be useful. Being so very new to the world of midi I don't know what CCs are. EDIT : Did some research and cc has two meanings! Also pc isn't a computer but a program change. Fascinating stuff. Anyway here is the blurb on my footswitch "Gecko MKIII has 20 presets. Each preset can store one PC (program change) message for each of 16 MIDI channels. In modes E1 and E2, you can edit presets. PC # can be set between 0 to 199**. Also, if set to OFF, no MIDI signal will be sent to that MIDI channel. Each individual MIDI channel can be turned off globally. Since MIDI channels that are set to OFF globally are not displayed during preset editing, setup can be shortened. Also, for each MIDI channel, you can set the CC number to send when pressing the OK/TAP footswitch and use it as tap tempo control. Since you can set individual CC numbers for each channel, you can control tap tempo of up to 16 devices at once."

Definitely haven't enjoyed not gigging. But then it's a strange concept isn't it? Enjoying the absence of something. I enjoy when something nasty goes away, like a headache or a visitor. But gigging is the keystone of the whole structure. Collecting basses, learning theory, improving technique, chatting here, incorporating effects - this and all the rest are parts of a structure but without that keystone it collapses. If you told me I'd never gig again I don't know how often I would pick up the bass.

Good for you Stu, you have chosen the perfect instrument. Lots of great online lessons for beginners, tons of books too. But Basschatters will always be happy to help you out.

I can't wait to gig with mine. I already have specific venues in mind for it. Notably the White Hart in Bicester. Always end up parking a goodly trudge from the venue, so I'm thinking small and light as possible. Two shorties, Talman and Club bass, BF Midget and Trace Elliot Elf, clip on tuner and I'm ready to roll. But even without the hike to the venue, once inside, the playing area is a postage stamp. Smaller than any drum riser I have seen. I play on the left, which basically means my bass sticks out into the audience, and people are constantly passing to and from the bar and the pub entrance. I always end up either playing like Bill Wyman or raising and lowering the neck to avoid hitting the punters. The Talman will be a great help being so compact while still delivering a full tone.

Any progress @ClassicVibes?

They're both missing the rust and filth around the pick ups.

No more government subsidies for Volvo basses.

Ruins the punchline doesn't it?

I would guess yes. But as ever it depends on size of the room, your chosen style, and how loud the band likes to be. I'll certainly try it

Sonic bliss actually. This Trace/Peavey, Barefaced combination is basically a marriage made in heaven. And so very small. They could be made for one another.

Oh that looks splendid. Any clips?

The Orange Terror is a great amp in my opinion. I sold mine when I foolishly thought that I could have too many bass heads. It's so powerful, such a great sound, but the 1000 was just too loud! So I guess the 500 would be perfect.

You may well understand it, my condition leaves me very hard of thinking so I would have struggled.

I have my midi controller coming soon. After much delibration I ended up choosing (broadly speaking you understand) based on; price, function, ease of use. Anything over 150 quid was a no no. First favourite was the Behringer FCB1010. Loved by those who use it , a whole host of ways to assign different pedals and two expression pedals. Second hand? As low as £50. Tech 21 Mongoose and Mouse I discounted after coming close. The Mongoose "simple to use" instruction video may just as well have been written in Esparanto and translated to Hebrew. Not the programming, the use. The Mouse I really liked because essentially it adds what the Future Impact most needs, a fast scroll and a back button. Special mention to both Harley Benton pedals - surely the best value for money out there. In the end though I went for this. Affordable, can be battery powered, and above all else, small. I was close to the Behringer, because I know the brand and know to ignore the tommy-rot about reliability, and anyway - look at all those switches!! Common sense prevailed however. I need simplicity on stage, not a thousand possibilities. I'm scaling my kit down not making it bigger. When people are paying to be entertained they don't want to look at me frowning at the floor trying to work out what the hell to stomp on next. This is just up, down, select. The only thing it does beyond that is allows me to set 20 presets. So instead of endlessly rearranging the order on the FI, I can leave that as is, and preset effects for whichever gig and band I'm in that night.

If it was a four I'd be interested in taking it off you. But if it was a four, you wouldn't be selling. 🤦🏼‍♂️ What a pointless post.

I had exactly the same experience! Ric copy, bought some flats, loaded them up, sounded pants!

Some basses just sing with flats don't they?

Had a masked meeting in a Tesco car park with Geoff today. I left with one more cab than when I arrived and fewer sheckles in the bank. A really great guy to deal with, Geoff had to put up with my headless chicken routine when the cash machine refused to play ball, but remained patient and friendly throughout. The communication prior to today's face to face, was easy, swift and clear, and I'm 100% happy to recommend this fine Basschatter.

OK thanks.